Staff of Taken Lives

The staff of Taken Lives is a magical staff that has the power of death stored inside it. To create it one must have a specific dagger and carve the notches into the staff when the dagger has the fresh blood of someone slain by the creator.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Beginning as a simple quarterstaff of oak or ash, this item is created by the ritual carving of notches with the Dagger of Taken Lives. To carve a notch, the dagger must be wet with the fresh blood of a slain creature that the wielder defeated in combat. As the staff accrues notches, it gains the following benefits:

• 10 Notches: Dealing a killing blow with this weapon allows the wielder to make their next attack roll with this weapon with advantage.

• 25 Notches: Opponents struck with this weapon are disadvantaged on any constitution or death saving throws they make before a short rest.

• 50 Notches: The wielder gains advantage on Charisma(Intimidation) checks when the target recognizes the staff.

• 100 Notches: Once per long rest, the wielder may attempt a killing blow with the staff. The target, if successfully struck with an attack roll, must make a DC 12 Constitution save or take 100 damage. On a successful save the target takes 50 damage.

Manufacturing process

The dagger of taken lives is used to create the notches on the staff, steeped in the fresh blood of the slain. With each notch there needs to be a new victims blood on the blade as the notches are made in the staff.

History

This staff has been made and unmade many times over, the power contained in the item depends on how evil the holder of the staff is. As more victims are piled up and carved into the wooden staff the more power it can channel. Those who have weilded the staff in the past include the first Archmagi of the Sothern Mage Conglomerate.

Item type

Magical

Creation Date

1850

Current Location

Gallery of Magic

Current Holder

Eldar

Creator

Eldar

Owning Organization

Eldar's Collective

Rarity

Very Rare

Weight

4 lbs

Base Price

50,000 GP

Tools

Dagger of Taken Lives is required to transfer the mystical energy of the fresh blood to the staff itself tethering the soul of the slain to the staff and used as its power source.