The Staff of Vaughn Skylar

This staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that grants a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While you hold it, you gain a +2 bonus to spell attack rolls.
The staff has 50 charges for the following properties. It regains 4d6 + 2 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 20, the staff regains 1d12 + 1 charges.
Spell Absorption. While holding the staff, you have advantage on saving throws against spells. In addition, you can use your reaction when another creature casts a spell that targets only you. If you do, the staff absorbs the magic of the spell, canceling its effect and gaining a number of charges equal to the absorbed spell's level. However, if doing so brings the staff's total number of charges above 50, the staff explodes as if you activated its retributive strike (see below).
Spells. While holding the staff, you can use an action to expend some of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, using your spell save DC and spellcasting ability: animate objects (7 charges), dispel magic (3 charges), fireball (7th-level version, 7 charges), flaming sphere (2 charges), ice storm (4 charges), invisibility (2 charges), knock (2 charges), lightning bolt (7th-level version, 7 charges), passwall (5 charges), teleport (7 charges), telekinesis (5 charges), wall of fire (4 charges), or web (2 charges).
You can also use an action to cast one of the following spells from the staff without using any charges: arcane lock, detect magic, enlarge/reduce, light, mage hand, or protection from evil and good.
Overcharge. With the exception of the charges the staff regains daily at dawn, this staff can be Overcharged if its charges ever exceed 50. If this happens, roll a d20. If you roll a 1, then the staff explodes, creating a massive shockwave emanating from the staff.
Every creature in the area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes an amount of damage based on how far away it is from the point of origin, as shown in the following table. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage.
Distance from Origin Damage 10 ft. away or closer 8 × the number of charges in the staff 11 to 20 ft. away 6 × the number of charges in the staff 21 to 30 ft. away 4 × the number of charges in the staff
If you roll a 2-10, then the staff overheats, sending shockwaves through the body of the person holding the staff. You take force damage equal to half the charges of the staff (rounded up), and the staff loses that many charges. Then, make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, you are forced to drop the staff, and it will lose the rest of its charges by emitting enormous sparks into the air. On a success, you maintain a hold on the staff, and maintain the magic within. It loses no more charges, but it is also unable to use any charges until an hour has passed, as it continues to cool down.
Versatile. This weapon can be used with one or two hands. A damage value in parentheses appears with the property—the damage when the weapon is used with two hands to make a melee attack.

History

This staff was created by Vaughn Skylar fairly early into his arcane pursuits. He has learned that staffs could help focus a mage's abilities, though at that point the thought was more-so a way for Wizards to better define the point of effect that their spell will have. He took these ideas to an extreme level, and used it to augment his abilities even further beyond what others were capable of. Vaughn also learned how to channel some of his own abilities into the staff, imbuing it with further power. Through a considerable amount of time focusing, and putting some of his own power into the staff, he was able to give himself the ability to cast spells through the staff without accessing his own magical reserves. This ability has sparked a great deal of research into the idea, and some attempts at similar staffs have been made in the many years since this staff was made.

Significance

Many arcane crafters have modeled staffs of their own creation on this one, though none have succeeded. This is thought to be the pinnacle of magical item, even more impressive as it ws one of the first magic items ever made.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Creation Date

The year 160 (exact date unknown)

Rarity

This is a one-of-a-kind item. It was created by Vaughn Skylar, and at this point, is somewhat lost to history. It is believed that he brought it with him when he retired, as there is no evidence of where else it could be. This myth has never been confirmed, however.

Weight

4 lbs