Igniter's Rod

This two foot long rod is made from sooty black metal that stains whatever it touches with smears of black ash. Twisting coils of copper, steel and lead tubes spring from and wind around this black core, culminating in a tangled knot of metal at the end of the shaft where each tube drains greasy, yellow liquid into a small cup-like container. Within this narrow bowl a tiny blue flame slowly consumes this liquid, giving off faint light and heat, along with the acrid odor of burning metal. Igniter's Rod radiates Epic evocation magic, and a Superb test of divination magic will reveal the command words required to control the device. It has the following powers and capabilities:

• Eternal Ember - The tip of the Rod burns with an eternal flame which cannot be extinguished. The Rod's owner can command this flame to brighten or dim as desired, the light and heat produced ranging from a match's flame to that of a large torch.
• Searing Flame - Six times per day the Rod's owner can command it to emit a one foot jet of searing hot flame lasting six rounds. The Flame is hot enough to melt even extremely hard substances such as stone or steel, cutting through a one inch steel rod in a single round. This Flame does Superb fire damage to anything it hits (requiring a successful melee attack to hit an active foe).
• Lava Belch - Three times per day Igniter's Rod can spew forth a gout of burning liquid lava which can be directed anywhere within 30 feet of the wielder. Sufficient liquid is produced to create a burning pool 10 feet in diameter. Anything struck by this gout (treat as a hurled object to determine where it lands) suffers Epic fire damage when initially struck, followed by three rounds of Great fire damage as the lava continues to sear and burn. Should the lava strike a large body of water it will cause an explosion of steam and rock fragments that inflicts Superb fire damage on anyone within 30 feet of the point of impact. Lava Belch leaves behind a mass of stone approximately 10 feet in diameter and one foot thick when it finally cools.
• Dragon's Tongue - Once per day the wielder can call forth a massive cone of flame 60 feet long and 30 feet wide at its furthest reach. Anything within this area of effect suffers Epic fire damage unless they make a Superb test of reflexes to avoid the effect, which reduces the damage by three ranks.

Each usage of the Igniter's Rod will set alight any flammable object within the area of effect. The heat produced by the device is so intense that normal fire resistance checks all suffer a one rank penalty. Igniter's Rod must be used at least once per day (any power) or it will randomly launch a Lava Belch to relieve the buildup of magical energies within its matrix.

Magician's Hand

This item is a short and stubby wand about nine inches long. Magician's Hand is made from a twisted length of petrified wood, the gnarled grain and knots of some ancient branch clearly evident. Polished gemstones, garnets and amethyst carved to resemble tiny leaves and nuts, are set along the wand's length, and each end is protected with a polished platinum cap incised with a nine-pointed star burst pattern. The item radiates Great divination and evocation magic, and any intelligent, magic-using creature that touches it will instantly be granted full awareness of its capabilities and powers. Magician's Hand has the following characteristics:

• The item grants a one rank bonus to its owner in all uses of divination magic. This bonus applies to effectiveness, duration, range, and information discovered.
• Any damaging evocation spell cast by the wielder inflicts an additional rank of damage to all targets normally affected by the spell.
• The wielder gains a one rank bonus to all attempts at using magic-related skills such as artifice, alchemy, or lore gathering. The exact skills affected should be determined by the GM as fitting their own campaign.
• The wielder gains a Great bonus to all language comprehension tests, and can learn new languages with ease, tripling the normal rate of learning. Any languages learned are retained, even if Magician's Hand is lost or destroyed.

Cloud Scribe

Cloud Scribe is a twisted and gnarled oak branch about a foot long. The butt end is wrapped in white-dyed leather, while the tip is set with a small iron meteorite held in place with fine silvery wire. Faint wisps of fog constantly stream from this meteorite. If examined for magical properties the device radiates Superb alteration magic. A Superb test of divination magic will reveal the device's control words.

Cloud Scribe has the following powers:

• Cloud Call - With this command word the user calls forth masses of dense gray clouds from Cloud Scribe. These clouds pour from the wand, covering a twenty foot diameter sphere the first round, thirty foot diameter the second, forty the third, and so forth. These clouds continue to pour forth so long as concentration is maintained. They completely obscure vision and muffle sound within the area of effect. Vision beyond five feet is difficult, beyond ten feet impossible. Sounds become directionless, and even shouts become whispers at twenty feet. This power can be invoked three times per day.
• Cloud Scribble - When this power is invoked Cloud Scribe can be used to 'drawn' cloudy, stationary solid shapes in the air. These shapes solidify into tough, porous and resilient objects in one round. Only crude shapes can be formed and the process is too slow to snare a moving creature, but walls, platforms or steps can be constructed. All created objects last one hour and have Superb toughness, though they are very susceptible to electrical damage (Poor resistance). This power can be invoked three times per day, and lasts five rounds. Approximately one object up to ten feet in diameter can be drawn each round.

Soul Lifter

Soul Lifter is a scepter of dark brown wood, ornately decorated with inlaid silver star bursts and topped with a massive tiger's eye globe. The scepter is about two feet in length, and is clearly meant as an ornamental fixture. If examined for magical properties, the scepter radiates Superb enchantment and alteration magic. An Epic test of divination magic will reveal the item's singular power.

Soul Lifter radiates magical energies in a 30' radius, affecting any sentient being within the area of effect that sees the scepter (a Superb test of willpower will resist the effect). Those affected are infected with great feelings of well-being and happiness. Minor pains and injuries are forgotten, as are petty arguments and negative thoughts. These feelings persist for one day. Soul Lifter's owner is immune to the effects of the item.

While Soul Lifter can be a useful tool in the hands of a leader, raising morale and cheering followers, its effects are addictive. Repeated use creates a craving that grows with each exposure. Two or three exposures create a minor desire to fall under the item's influence, a half-dozen turns minor desire to serious craving. The addictive effects fade over time. After two weeks with no exposure the cravings of even the most addictive will have faded to almost nothing.

Circlet of Mental Mastery

I found this collection of items tucked away in an old folder during my RPG scanning project. Originally these items were used by Borgyl, an evil cleric pursuing lichdom, to maintain contact and control of his extensive demi-human army. Borgyl had established himself in a rift valley bordering a desert wasteland and had quite the army, including hundreds of trolls and ogres and thousands of orcs. No, I don't really know how he fed them all. I know he turned the fallen into an army of thousands of undead skeletons and zombies.

Circlet of Mental Mastery - This plain gold headpiece is the controlling element of this array of magic items. It is imbued with Superb enchantment / charm magic, allowing its wearer to communicate with and influence the actions of anyone using one of the lesser items. The wearer of the circlet gains the following powers and abilities:

• Telepathic communication - The wearer can contact and send messages to anyone wearing one of the lesser items in the collection. This communication is one way, though each type of lesser item allows a differing amount of feedback when contacted. This power can be used at will.
• Suggestion - The wearer can cast a magical suggestion upon anyone they contact (Good test of will to ignore). Suggestions that directly cause harm to the target will be ignored, but other suggestions will be treated as if they were the target's own very good idea. This power can be used five times per day. Suggestions last until completed.
• Attunement - The wearer can attune any of the lesser devices to a specific wearer, allowing them to make use of the device's powers with no further instruction. This power can be used five times per day.
• Detection - The wearer is instantly alerted when any non-attuned user attempts to activate a lesser device. Detection will reveal the general location and general intent of the device's user. This power is passive and continuous.

All powers of the circlet have a near infinite range. The item bears an intrinsic curse, causing the user to seek out and make use of all the lesser devices to expand and enhance their personal influence and domination.

Black Medallions - Simple black disks carved with a star-burst pattern and fitted with a silver chain, these are the least of the lesser devices connected with the Circlet of Mastery. Wearing an attuned Medallion enables the Circlet's owner to communicate with the wearer. A Medallion wearer can send a general sense of status (all is well, danger, etc.) along with a location, either when contacted or at will, up to three times per day. There are 144 Black Medallions.

Silver Bands - These items are plain silver rings engraved with the same star-burst pattern as the Black Medallions. Wearing an attuned Band enables the Circlet's owner to communicate with the wearer. A Band wearer can send a brief message (a dozen words) along with a general sense of status, either when contacted or at will, up to three times per day. The wearer of a Silver Band can also share any received Suggestion with up to three others, just as if the wearer of the Circlet had issued it. Communication with the Circlet's owner can be made three times per day. Suggestion can be passed on once per day. There are 12 Silver Bands.

Silver Scepters - These Scepters are the most powerful of the lesser devices. They allow full communication between the attuned user and the Circlet's wearer up to three times per day. In addition the Scepter's user can contact the wearer of any lesser device and communicate with them directly up to three times per day. A Scepter user can share any received Suggestion with up to three others, just as if the Circlet's wearer had issued it. Suggestions can be shared up to three times per day. There are three Silver Scepters.

Each of the lesser devices radiates Good enchantment / charm magic. If the Circlet is in use when any lesser item is tested the Circlet's owner will be aware of the location and general intent of the item's user.

Druid's Touch

This magical device has the appearance of a gnarled branch inlaid with bronze holly leaves and reddish stone berries. Druid's Touch is about 16 inches in length and an inch in diameter. Attempts to discern the item's magical nature will reveal it contains Good protective magic, Good alteration magic, and Great healing magic. The item radiates neither good nor evil.

Druid's Touch has the following powers and abilities:

• Good protection in a 5' radius versus nature-based attacks when held.
• Purification - Purify and make wholesome food and/or drink, making even rotten, poisoned, or diseased substances suitable for consumption. This ability affects enough food and drink to serve 10 people a good meal and can be used once per day.
• Fruitful Tree - Cause a tree or other plant to sprout a dozen wholesome, nutritious fruits, each providing the benefit of a good meal and eight hours rest. Fruit created in this way must be consumed within a few hours of its creation. This ability can be used once per day.
• Healing Touch - This healing magic will provide Great healing to a single target, curing poisons, diseases and wounds. This ability can be used once per day.
• Resurrection - This healing magic will return the spirit of a slain comrade to life. This ability can only be used once per month on the night of a full moon. After this power is invoked there is a small chance Druid's Touch will be destroyed in the process.