Thayvian Beacon (Magic Beacon)

A Thayvian beacon is a magical device that attracts a specific type of monster into an area and then holds it there through a powerful form of mind control. These beacons were developed by the School of Conjuration and Summoning in Thay, originally for use in Rashemen Minshak Keseri was an influential member of the school at this time and was partly responsible for the item's invention. To create a Thayvian beacon, the wizard first needs to find a piece of the monster to be attracted (a tooth, for example). Next, a skilled metalsmith is required to cast a bronze disk 1' in diameter and 3 inches thick. The likeness of the monster should be carved into the mold, so that a relief picture of the beast appears on the disk. The piece of the monster must be ground or crushed into the molten bronze.
When the disk has been removed from the mold and has cooled, the wizard can begin work. The exact spells to be cast are known only to select Red Wizards of the School of Conjuration and Summoning, but Elminster of Shadowdale believes they include enchant an item, permanency, and charm monster, as well as monster summoning spells whose potency level must total the Hit Dice of the monster to be summoned. In other words, to enchant a beacon to attract bulettes the wizard needs to cast monster summoning VII and monster summoning II (or a similar combination), since a bulette is a 9HD monster.
Each beacon must have its own unique command words in both activate and deactivate it. Monsters that can be attracted by Thayvian beacons must be of low Intelligence or less. The range of a device is 10 miles per Hit Die of the monster to be summoned. Once attracted to the beacon, a powerful charm affects the monster. The creature must make an Intelligence check or it cannot stray farther than 1 mile per Hit Die from the beacon. For each week within the effect of a beacon, the monster can check again, adding a cumulative +1 to its Intelligence check. If it cannot overcome the beacon's influence, the monster remains within the zone of effect, even if this means it starves to death.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Beacons