Bashal's Tendrilight (Lamp)

The tendrilight is a rectangular lantern with a 6- by 6-inch base. Two shutters rest on opposite sides of the lantern, with a vertical column of five adjustable knobs along one nonshuttered side. When one of the shutters is opened, a quivering black membrane is revealed. The membrane is warm to the touch and has a very rubbery texture. If seen from behind (through the other open shutter), the membrane is not visible; instead, there appears a metal plate with a row of five horizontal vents corresponding to the five knobs on the side. When each of the knobs is turned clockwise, it opens a corresponding vent. When light from the lantern strikes the membrane, it causes the membrane to animate and stretch forth from the open shutter like a long black tendril. With each additional vent opened, the tendril becomes longer.
Tendril: AC 1; HD 2-6 (as per number of vents opened); THAC0 13 (see text); #AT 1; Dmg 1d8+1; SA stunning, constriction; MR 5%; SZ 10-30'(5'perHD).
The tendril attacks as an 8-HD monster, lashing out like a whip. Those struck by the tendril must save vs. paralyzation or fall stunned for two rounds, unable to move, attack, defend, or use spells or psionics. If the attack roll is two over the score needed to hit, the tendril encircles its victim and squeezes. This constriction does 1d10 points of damage per round to any small- or human-sized creature until the tendril is destroyed or commanded to release. A captured victim need not make further saving throws vs. paralysis after the first one. The tendril functions for 2d6 rounds if not dispelled or destroyed.
The tendril is very rubbery. Subsequently, nonmagical blunt weapons have no effect on it. Nonmagical edged or pointed weapons do 1 point of damage per strike, and magical weapons of any sort do normal damage. The tendril gains 1 HD for every shutter open (from 2 HD for one shutter to 6 HD for all five). The membrane is destroyed if it is reduced to 0 hit points; the tendrilight then becomes a normal lantern. The process required to create new membranes is contained within Bashal's Spellbook, but this text has been missing for many years.
The tendrilight was the last creation of the wizard Bashal of Amn. Bashal was a member of the Cowled Wizards, and it was with their resources that he was able to create his masterwork. Unfortunately, he fell quite ill after its creation and died soon afterward. The lantern went into the hands of the order, who sold it to the head of a large merchant family in return for certain services rendered. From the merchant house, the lantern changed hands a number of times before it came into the possession of a warrior of the Order of the Blue Boar named Crosess Whitedove. He carried the lantern with him until his death nearly 50 years ago. After his death, it fell into the hands of one of Crosess' young students, Helrik Redsash. Helrik, at last report, had joined a group of adventurers and journeyed with them into the Snowflake Mountains. They have not been heard from since. Many treasure-seekers have gone into the mountains to look for them, but none have been successful to date.
Category:Magic Items
Category:Encyclopedia Magica