Rod of Orbs (Magic Rod)

The secret of making these rare rods is now lost. Some believe they are relics of vanished human spacefaring races. Others think they were devised by the arcane, to prevail in early conflicts with beholders. Several archmages are known to be researching a means to recharge them; if any have accomplished this, the achievement remains a secret. The rods crumble instantly to dust when drained.
A rod of orbs is easily told from most other rods. Fashioned of brass or bronze, it has two bulbous, eye shaped ends. When grasped, the rod gives the holder infravision to a 90-foot range (draining no charges).
Once per turn, the bearer can mentally command the rod to bestow x-ray vision (as the magical ring) for a continuous four-round period. The power can be ended earlier if the rod wielder wills it, but unused time cannot be saved for later or used in a succession of shorter amounts. This drains 1 charge per activation.
Once per day (a 144-turn period), the rod can be willed to give the wielder an indivisible, continuous, five turn period of true seeing (as the 5th-level priest spell, save that the rod gives no vision into the Ethereal or adjacent planes). This function drains 2 charges.
The rod also confers immunity to all gaze related attacks (beholder, catoblepas, medusa, umber hulk, vampire, all others) at a cost of 1 charge per attack. The rod must be held to confer such protection, but need not be wielded. When in such a state, the holder is automatically protected—and may not even be aware that a particular attack has been made (if the rod is not held, its protection is not used, and no charges are lost to gaze-related attacks of any sort).
The wielder can will the rod to provide reflection, which costs 2 charges per attack protected against, instead of one. Unlike a gaze reflection spell, the rod's protection and reflection work against all forms of eye-related attacks, including the passive sort (medusa, umber hulk), the powers of magical items such as cusps, eyes, and orbs, and magical powers that are released from living orbs, such as a beholder's eyes.
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magical Rod
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items