Staff of Defense
The Safeguarding Focus
"It looks fragile, more decorative than practical. But I've seen this staff stop a hammer that should have caved in a skull, and keep its user safe from plenty of strikes."
The Staff of Defense appears as a 6 foot tall, slender column of transparent glass; a bubble of air within its length renders it hollow and light to use, with the top of the staff capped by any variety of magical focus. Some staffs come with gems, cut or uncut; others are decorated with runes; some have decorative statuettes and carvings. Those who attune find that they feel more at ease with their surroundings and confident in their actions.
History
Creation
The glass glows red as cherries, carefully blown and shaped with a protective glove. Even as the glassmaker works their craft, the mage at their side chants incantation and spell, a deeper glow suffusing the molten glass as enchantments are woven into its substance with each blow and roll.
Like many Staves of Defense, this one was produced by imbuing the process of creation with the inherent spells. Each day its process was woven through with arcane power and talent, suffusing its form with a regenerative potential. Though the specifics of its creation are known only to its previous user, those with the correct talents can easily put it to use once more.
Past Users
"Come now, my friends. Surely we can avoid further death and bloodshed, if we simply... Talk to each other. I'm confident that we can achieve a mutual understanding that benefits us all." - Glasstaff
The first, and previous, user of this Staff of Defense was Iarno Albrek, a wizard who belonged to the Lords Alliance guild. Though a loyal member, he was soon lured into turning against his guild and seizing control of a group of bandits known as the Redbrands. Taking on the moniker of 'Glasstaff' due to his magical staff, he began to work behind the scenes in Phandalin. He managed to garner some level of control before his plans were ultimately ruined by a band of adventurers who slew the Redbrands and defeated him when he tried to flee from the town.
Effects
The Bugbear let out a grunting snort, its weapon cleaving through the air towards the chest of the wizard. The staff in their hands flared slightly, and without warning an arcane shield formed in the air before them, the morningstar rebounding with a faint, metallic clang.
Attunement to this Staff will grant the following benefits once achieved. These benefits are only able to be used when you are actively wielding the Staff in at least one hand. If the wielder has attuned but is not wielding the Staff in their hands, then they do not receive any of the attunement benefits which follow.
Protective Enchantment
- The Staff of Defense grants a +1 bonus to your AC so long as you are holding onto the staff.
Charges
- The Staff of Defense contains 10 magical charges at maximum capacity. So long as you are holding onto the Staff, you can use an Action to expend the charges within to cast one of the two spells stored by this item: Mage Armour or Shield. The Staff regenerates 1d6+4 charges each dawn; if the final charge is expended, roll a D20. On a 1, the Staff shatters as the magic within becomes unbound.
Mage Armour (1 Charge)
1st Level Abjuration
- Casting Time: 1 Action
- Range: Self
- Components: V, S
- Duration: 8 Hours
A magical field emanates from the Staff, coating its wielder with a protective layer. Your base AC becomes 13+Dexterity Modifier. The spell ends if you don armour, or dismiss the spell as an Action.
Shield (2 Charges)
1st Level Abjuration
- Casting Time: 1 Action
- Range: Self
- Components: V, S
- Duration: 1 Round
An invisible barrier of magical force appears and protects you. Until the start of your next turn, you have a +5 AC bonus against all attacks until Shield ends. This spell blocks all damage from Magic Missile as well.